domingo, 18 de maio de 2008

Justice?

The new Justice video, directed by Romain Gavras for the song "Stress", is bound to set a few questions on the dusty table of pop music. Questions of politics in the current European state of affairs, but also questions on the attitude of both the duo Justice (Xavier de Rosnay and Gaspard Auge) and the director Romain Gavras in his "La Haine" depiction of desintegration through conflict in France. Known by their summer hits "We are your friends" (with Simian) and "D.A.N.C.E", Justice seems to be trying to tread two different paths and swim through opposing tides, profiting from their "pop-friendliness" while at the same time trying to keep a self-conscious attitude towards the marketing culture where their album skyrockets to pop heaven. I am aware that I might be actually reading Romain Gavras´s politics into Justice, but I believe this schizophrenia can be heard at the core of an album like "Waters of Nazareth" (Ed Banger Records). "Stress" is a brilliantly questionable video. But questions are quite necessary right now in the pop industry of temporary certainties.